Furniture



A. M. BANK Aug. 4, 1942.

FURNITURE Filed June 14, 1940 3 Sheets-Shaw?I l INVENTOR M55/27' M. SAA/K BY TTORNEY Aug 4, 1942.

A. M. BANK FURNITURE 3 Sheets-Sheet-Z 'Filed June 14, 19'40 Patented Aug. 4, 1942 FURNITURE .Albert M. Bank, Jersey City, N. J., assigner to' Sylvia Bank, Jelscy` City, N. J.

Application June 14, 1940, serial No. 340,531

' 9 Claims.

ticle of furniture of the character described which may be readily changedv from a couch position to a lounging position, and from a lounging position to a bed position, and vice versa.

A further object of this invention isto provide a combination article of furnitude of the character described, which may be changed from a couch position to a bed position without necessity for moving the article away from the wall against which it is standing, and which may be again changed from a bed position to a couch position without moving the varticle away from the wall, only sufficient room being necessary to put a hand in between said article of furniture and the wall to make the change.

Another object of this invention is to provide an article of the character described, having a seat portion and a back portion hinged together, and in which the seat portion may be swung over on top of the back portion, when the back prtion has been moved to horizontal: position,

whereby both the seat and the back portions are substantially disposed within the confines of the supporting frame, thereby making for compactness for shipping.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in an article ofthe character described, means to hold the seat section in upwardly swung position to facilitate removal of bedding from the supporting box or frame.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in an article of the character described, a supporting frame* adapted to contain bedding, and mechanisms at the opposite ends of the frames to support a pair of interpivoted upholstered sections which may be easily moved to bed position, lounging position, couch position and shipping position with one section swung cnto the top of the other section, counter springs being provided to facilitate movement of the seciions from bed position to lounging and couch positions, means being further provided to retard dropping of the back section to horizontal position, and .said means. aiding in lifting the back section when changing from bed position to longitudinal couch positions.

A still further object of this vinvention is to provide a strong, compact and durable article of furniture of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, comfortable to use, easy to manipulate, and yet practical and emcient to a high degree.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The inventionaccordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings; in which are shown various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. l is a transverse, elevational, cross-sectional view of. the combination article of furniture embodying the invention, taken on line I-I of Fig. 2, and showing the samein couch posi tion;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken online -3--3 of Fig. 1; l

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the article of furniture embodying the invention;

Fig. 5 is a cross-'sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 9;

Fig.y 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 'I-l of Fig. 4;

,Fig. 8 is an elevational, cross-sectional view of the device embodying the invention, showing the same in lounging position;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing the same in bed position, and also showing the seat section on top of the back section, for shipping purpose, in dot, dash-lines;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but illustrating a modified construction;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but showing the front seat lifted and held up by a supporting link; and

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view I2--I2 of Fig. 11.`

Referring now in detail to the drawings, I0

taken on line invention. -The same comprises a supporting bottom box or frame II having a bottom wallIZ supported on'corner legs I3. At the ends of vthe bottom wall I2 are hollow vertical arms I5. The

I1, front walls I8, rear walls il and topwalls 20. The arms I5 also serve as'the head and foot of a bed, when the device is in bed position, as will be seenhereinafter.

designates an article of furniture embodying the arms I5 may comprise inner walls I6, outer WallsV Extending upwardly from the bottom wall I2.

and disposed between the arms I5, is a front wall 22 and a rear wall 23. Walls 22 and 23 do not `extend to the height of the arms I5 but are of Pivoted to the rear end of each plater 25, as at l 26a, is a link 26, and pivoted to the front end of each plate, as at 21a, is a link 21. The pivotal point 21a for the link 21 is somewhat higher than the pivotal point 26a for the link 26, butthe latter link is of greater length than the former. l Each link 26 i s interconnected to the rear wall 23 by coil tension springsv 23, for the'purpose hereinafter appearing.

Mounted on the support I |,'and between the arms I5, are upholstered seat and back sections 30 and 3|, supported on the links 2 6 and 21, in the manner hereinafter appearing. e A

Section 30 comprises a frame'32 having a front wall 33, a rear wall 34 and end walls 35. The rear wall 34 is of somewhat greater height than 25 the front wall 33. Interconnecting the lower edge of the front wall 33 with the upper edge of the rear wall 34, is a one piece webbing 36 which may be made of burlap or other suitable webbing -materiaL Mounted on the webbing 36 are the 30 foundation springs 3B interconnected and tied down, in accordance with usual upholstery practice.

Fixed to the outer surfaces of the end walls 35, adjacent the rear ends thereof, are similar, upstanding plates 40 extending somewhat rearwardly of the rear wall of the frame.

The back section 3| has a frame 32a, similar and symmetrically disposed with respect to frame 32, with the exception that the frame 32 is of 40 greater depth from front to rear. The frame 32a is provided with the same kind of webbing and springs as in section 30. Attached to the end walls of the frame 32a, are plates 4| similar and symmetrically disposed with respect to the plates 40.

The upper ends of the plates 40 and 4| are hinged together and to the upper ends of the links 21, on pins 45, thus hinging together the sections 30 and 3| Pins 45 are located adia- 50 cent the upper levels of sections 30, 3|. The springs 38 may be interconnected by links 44 f to a longitudinally-extending rod 45a, having end loops 42 aligned with pins 45, as shown in Figs.

1 and 6 of the drawings. The springs 33 of sec- 55 tions 30 and 3| are covered by usual upholstery covering- 46. The upper ends of links 26 are pivoted to the lower portions of plates 4|, as at 41. The sections 30 and 3| are thus supported on the links 26, 21 and on the support In Fig. 1, the article is shown in couch position. In such position, the links 26 are substantially upright, and section 3| is a back section, whereas, section 30 constitutes a seat section. The back section is substantially upright, being 'supported in such position by the links 26. The front end of section30 rests on top of the front wall 22. The junction of sections 33, 3| is supported by links-21 The springs 26 pulling backward on links 26, serve to prevent accidental change of the positions of the sections 33 and 3|.

Fixed to plates 4| are stop pins 4|a contacting the links 26 when the back section 3| is in upright or couch position. t

Means is provided to support sections 36A, 3| 75 in lounging position, with the back section :l

inclined upwardly and rearwardly. To this end,

' and project below the lower edges of the frame end walls 35. `'I'he upper edge of front wall 22, preferably at the middle thereof, is formed with a cutway 22a which may be lled by a block 51 of soft rubber and covered by a flexible covering 56. A hand may thus be inserted between the frame 32 and front wall 22, by depressing the soft rubber block 51. thus be pulled forwardly against the tension of springs 28 causing the counterclockwise movement of the links 26 and 21, bringing the sections 30 and 3| from the couch position shown in Fig. 1, to the lounging position shown in Fig. 8. Th dogs 54 contact the rear surface of the front wall 22 to stop movement of section 33 when the back section 3| is inclined.

To move the sections 30, 3| from lounging po may then be pulled forwardly until the sections 30 and 3| are in the bed or horizontal position shown in Fig. 9, and in such position, the rear or upper end of section 3| contacts the rear wall 23. f

It will be noted that the rear wall 23 is somevwhat higher than the front wall 22, .the reason being that when sections 30 and 3| are in bed position, front wall 22 contacts an intermediate pore article may be conveniently shipped. y

It will be noted that linen and bedding may be placed in the compartment formed by the support and by lifting the front section 30 somewhat, access may be obtained to ,the bedding,

linen and other articles within the supporting frame. To facilitate movement of the sections 30 and 3| from the position shown in Fig. 9, back to lounging and couch positions, the rear wall 23 is formed with cut-outs 23a adjacent the ends thereof and at the upper edges thereof to receive soft rubber blocks, similar to the blocks 51. Thus, a person may place his hand around the back of the article I0 and through one of the cut-outs in the rear wall 23 and lift the rear section 3l, causing the links 26 and 21 to swing in a clockwise direction aided by the tension of the springs 26, causing the section 3| to swing upwardly in a counterclockwise direction, and section 30 to slide rearwardly. As section 30 slides rearwardly, the dogs 54 swing upwardly to pass the front wall 22. After the dogs 54 arepast the wall 22, the sections may be allowed to remain in lounging position. or section 3| may bel continued to be The front section 30 may pulled upwardly until the couch position of Fig. 1 is obtained.

lounging to bed positions, the back section' 3| swings rearwardly onto the upper edge of the rear wall 23, and as it does so, the effective force of the springs 28 on the links 26 decreases to a point where the force is substantially ineiective to retard the last portion of the downward swinging movement of said back section. Means is therefore provided to retard the last portion of section 30 in upwardly inclined position, to permit removal of the bedding. To this end, there is pivoted to loop Snc ofone of the stop members 80, a supporting link or bracket 63 having an arm 54 slidably received in said loop portion, and afoot orarm 65 slidably received in the loop portion of the stop member 6 I The arm 64 is longer than arm 65, and has a A collar ,Gliv at its outer end. The link I3 may be the swinging movement of the back section 3| The' moved suiiiciently for the arm. 65 to clear the' stop member 6I, permitting the link to be swung against the bottom wall of the frame. However, upon lifting the section v3|), arm 55 may be enf gaged within the loop portion of stop member 6 I, to hold said section up for facilitating removal of articles from the supporting frame I I The plates may be provided with stop pins 10a to retain thelevers 1I in vertical position when said levers are not engaged by thelinks 26.

Furthermore, stop pins 25a may be mounted on the plates 25 to engage the'under-edges of the frames 32 of sections'30 to support said sections in couch position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Thus, stop pins 25a, as well as the pins IIa, serve to limit rearward movementof section 30 and swinging movement of section 3| in couch points 26a and 21a. The foot 13 is formed with an opening to which is connected one end of a coil tension spring 15. The other end ofr the spring 15 is connected to a pin at the pivotal point 21a. Normally, springs-15 are not tensioned l and levers 1I are vertical.

Y When the back section 3| moves from the couch position in Fig. 8 to the horizontal position of Fig. 9, links 26 will contact the feet 12 of lever 1I to rotate said levers against the .tension of the springs 15, thus retarding downward swinging of the back section and preventing the back section from striking hard against the upper edge of the rear wall 23.

As the back section is raised, the spring, 15

aids in the initial lifting movement of the back section, at least to a point where the springs 28 become effective to aid in raising said back section. Thus, the lever 'II and spring 15 not only w members. 6I on the underside of section 33. Each `member 6I comprises a strip of metal attached to the under-edge of frame end wall and formed with a humped portion Gla, the rear side of which is inclined, as at SIb. Stop member 60 comprises a plate having a portion 6Ila`con tactingthe topedge of front wall 22, a portion 60h contacting the inner surface of said front wall and a loop 60e disposed below the'upper edge .of iront wall 22, and on the inner side of said front wall.

In lounging position, the humped portions Sla of members 6I contact portions 60h of stop members 60. To change from lounging to bed. position, section 3U has to be lifted sulciently for the humped portion of stop member 5I jto clear the front wall. As section 33 lmoves forwardly,

rail portions of member ride on portions 60a' of member 60.

Means is further provided to retain the front position.

It will thus be seen that thereis provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above inventionand as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. I

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureA by Letters Patent:`

l. An article of the 'character described comprising a supporting frame, a pair of links pivoted toV said supporting frame, a seat section and a back section pivoted together, said sections being of substantially similar width, one of the links being pivoted to the pivoted points-of said sections, the other link being pivoted to the back section, a spring interconnecting the second link with the rear of the frame, and stop means on the seat section adapted to engage the supporting frame to hold the sections in loungingposition with the back section linclined upwardly and rearwardly, and theseat section substantially in horizontal position, said seat section having portions inclined downwardly and rearwardly and resting upon the forward portion of said supporting frame effective to' raise the -front end of said seat section commensurate with the upward movement of said iirst mentioned link, said sectionsbeing movable to a horizontal position, and both sections being adapted to be supported wholly by the frame in said position, and in said position one of said sections projecting forwardly 'of the'frame and -the rear of the other section being substantially'lush with the rearof the frame, the combined width of said sections being greater than the width of said' frame.

2. In combination, a support, al seat section and a back section, plates on said sections, means to pivot said plates together, a link pivoted at one end to the support and at the other end to the pivotal point between said plates, a second link interconnecting said support with the back section, and releasable stop means on the seat section to engage .a portion `of the supporting frame to hold the sections against forward movement in lounging position, with the back frame section inclined upwardly and -rearwardly, said seat section having portions inclined downwardly and rearwardly and resting upon the -forward portion of said supporting frame effective to raise the front end of said seat section commensurate with the upward movement of said first mentioned link, and said sections being movable from lounging position to bed position with both sections substantially horizontal, upon release of said stop means, said sections being wholly supported .by the frame in horizontal position and in such position the rear of the back section being substantially flush with the rear of the frame, and the front end of the seat section projecting forwardly beyond the front of the frame, the combined width of said sections being greater than the width of said frame.

3. In combination, a support, la seat section and a back section, plateson said sections, means to pivot said plates together, a link pivoted at one end to the' support and at the other end'to the pivotal point between said plates, a second link interconnecting said support with the back section, and stop means on the seat section to -engage a portion of the supporting frame to hold the sections inclined upwardly and rearwardly,

and said sections being movable to bed position with both sections substantially horizontal, said second link being substantially upright in couch position with the back section substantially upright, and the first link being inclined upwardly and rearwardly in couch position, said first link being substantially upright in lounging position when the back section is inclined upwardly and rearwardly, and being inclined somewhat forwardly and upwardly in bed position, said sections being wholly supported by the frame in horizontal position, and in such position the rear of the back section being substantially ilush with the rear of the frame, and the front end of the seat section projecting forwardly beyond the front of the frame, the combined width of said sections being greater than the width of said frame. f

4. In combination, a support, a seat section and a back section, plates on said sections, means to pivot said plates together, a. link pivoted at one end to the support and at the other end to the pivotal point between said plates, a second link interconnecting said support with the back section, and stop means on` the seat section to engage a portion of the supporting frame to hold the sections in lounging position with the back and beng inclined somewhat forwardly and upwardly in bed position, said second link being of greater length than the first link and being pivoted to the frame ata lower level than the first link. s

5. In an article of furniture of the character described, a supporting frame, an upholstered seat section, andan upholstered back section piv- 'oted thereto about an axis disposed substantially at the upper `level of said sections and spaced above the bottoms of said sections, a link pivoted aty its lower end to said supporting frame and at its lupper end to the pivotal connection between said sections, a second link pivoted at its lower end to said frame, and at its upper end to the back section at a point closer to its bottom than to its top, and stop means on the seat section adapted to disengageably engage a portion of the frame to hold said sections against forward movement in lounging position with the back section in upwardly and rearwardly inclined position, said seat section having portions-inclined downwardly and rearwardly and resting upon the forward portion of said supporting frame effective to raise the front end of said seat section commensurate with the upward movement of said rst mentioned link, said seat section being mov able forwardly, and said back section being movable from inclined to horizontal position upon disengaging said stop means, said sections being wholly supported by the frame in horizontal position, and in such position the rear of the vback section being substantially flush with the rear of the frame, and the front end of the seat section projecting forwardly beyond the front of the frame, -the combined width of said sections being greater than the width of said frame.

6. In an article of furniture of the character described, a supporting frame, an upholstered seat section, and an upholstered back section pivoted thereto about an axis disposed substantially at the upper level of said sections and spaced -above the bottoms of said sections, a link pivoted at its lower end to said supporting frame and at its upper end to the pivotal connection be` tween said sections, a second link pivoted at its lower end to said frame, and at its upper end to' the back section at a point closer to its bottom than to its top, means on the seat section adapted to engage a portion of the frame to prevent forward movement of the seat section relative to the frame to retain the back section in upwardly and rearwardly inclined position, said seat section being adapted to' be lifted to disengage the stop means from the frame and to permit the seat section to be pulled forwardly, and said back section being adapted to swing downwardly to horizontal position, upon pulling `said seat section forwardly, and spring means adapted to be tensioned upon said backsection swinging down to horizontal position, said sections being wholly supported by the frame'in horizontal position, and in suchposition the rear of the back section being substantially flush with the rear of the frame, and the front end of the seat section projecting forwardly beyond the front of the frame, the combined width of said sections being greater than the width of said frame.

'7. In an article of furniture of the character described, a supporting frame, an upholstered seat section, and an upholstered back section pivoted thereto about an axis disposed substantially at the upper level of said sections and spaced above the bottoms of said sections, a link pivoted at its lower end to said supporting frame l and at its upper end to the pivotal connection between said sections, a second link pivoted at its lower end to said frame, and at its upper end .l

to the back section at a point closer to its bottom than to its top, means on the seat section Y adapted to engage a portion of the frame to prevent forward movement ofthe seat section relative to the frame to retain the back section in upwardly and rearwardly inclined position, saidv section being adapted to be lifted to disengage l the stop means from the frame and to permit the seat sectionto be pulled forwardly, and said back section being adapted to swing l"downwards: to

horizontal position, upon pulling said seat section forwardly, spring means adapted to be tensioned upon said back section swinging down to horizontal position, said seat section being adapted to be swung upwardly about its pivotal connection, and additional spring means adapted to retard the last po'rtion only of the downward swinging movement of the back section toward horizontalposition.

8. In an article of furniture of the character seat section, and an upholstered back section pivoted thereto about an axis disposed substantially at-the upper level of said sections and spaced above the bottoms of said sections, a link pivoted at its lower end to said supporting frame and at its upper end to the pivotal. connection between said sections, a second link pivoted'at its lower end to said frame, and at its upper end to the back section at a point closer to its bottom than to its top, means on the seat section adapted to engage a portion ofthe frame to prevent forward movement of the seat section relative to the frame to retain the back section in described, a supporting frame, an upholstered the rear of said frame, and the front end of said seat lsection projecting forwardly of the front end of said frame when said sections are in horl- Y zontal position.

9. An article of the character described, comprising a supporting frame, a pair of upholstered sections, means to interpivot said sections, a link interconnecting one of said sections with the supporting frame, a second link interconnecting the interpivoted portions of said sections with said lsupporting frame, spring means interconnesting the mst uns 'with the rear of :he supporting frame, said sections being adapted to be swung from bed position with both sections horizontal to a-couch position with the ilrst section i upright and the second section horizontal, said upwardly and rearwardly inclined position, said seat section being adapted to be lifted to disengage the stop means from the frame and to permit the seat section to bepulled forwardly, and said back section being adapted to swing downwardly to horizontal position, upon pulling said seat section forwardly, spring means adapted to be tensioned upon said back section swinging down to horizontal position, and additional spring means adapted to retard the last portion only of the downward swinging movement of the back first link being inclined forwardly and upwardly when said sections are horizontal, and being substantially in vertical position when said first section is upright, st op means to limit movement of said sections from bed position to couch position,

-said means including a stop' pin on said first sectlonrspacedfrom the pivotal connection between said sections and adapted to move toward said first link when said first section moves from horlzontal to `upright position, and away from said 'rst link when said rst section moves from upright to horizontal position and to engage said first link in couch position to limit movement of .said first link as it moves from inclined to vertical position, and means on the frame to engage the underside of the second section in said couch position. i

. ALBERT M. BANK.

' section toward horizontal position, the rear end `of said back section being substantially flush with 

